Zingiber pseudosquarrosum sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India

Zingiber pseudosquarrosum L. J. Singh & P. Singh sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India is described and illustrated and its conservation status is evaluated. This new species seems related to Z. squarrosum Roxb. but can be distinguished by the presence of a small pseudostem, long ligule and petiole, broadly lanceolate leaves with cuneate base, caudate apex and paxillate venation, urceolate or prolate inflorescences, very long underground peduncle, long calyx, very long corolla tube, labellum deep purple red (claret) at centre, orange red (vermillion) at lateral sides with ivory (off white) spots, tip truncate and slightly notched, margin folded back, stamen with short filament, yellow orange anther, light brown ovary, blood red (cinnabar) seeds covered by a white aromatic aril. A key to the species of Zingiber Mill. from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is also provided.     

Primulina rubella sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area in Guangdong,China

A new species of Primulina (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area in southern China, P. rubella L.H. Yang & M. Kang, is described and illustrated. The new species has purple‐red flowers and is thus similar to P. lijiangensis, but differs by its petiole, leaf blade, cyme, filament, stigma and ovary. In adition, a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that P. rubella and P. lijiangensis belong to quite different clades. Instead, P. rubella appears to be closely related to the sympatric P. qingyuanensis, although these two species are obviously differentiated both in terms of flower color and other vegetative and floral characters. The conservation status of P. rubella is assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) according to the IUCN red list categories and criteria.     

Mussaenda yunnanensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae), a new functionally dioecious species from Yunnan,China

Mussaenda yunnanensis, a new dioecious species of Rubiaceae from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species can be recognized by its slender stem, congested‐cymose inflorescences and long corolla tubes. Differences between M. yunnanensis and two morphologically similar species (M. pubescens and M. antiloga) are presented. We also provide a key to all dioecious species of Mussaenda in China. The delimitation of the new species is further supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on eight plastid loci.     

Two new species of the genusMenziesia from Japan

Two species ofMenziesia, M. katsumatae andM. yakushimensis, are described as new to science. The former is characterized by having a long axis of the inflorescence with 15–20 bracts while the other species has a short axis with about ten bracts.M. katsumatae is restricted to the Hakusan range extending northward to Mt. Hōdatsuzan in the Noto Peninsula.M. yakushimensis has been considered asM. purpurea Maxim. in Kyūshū, but it is clearly distinguishable from the latter by the color and shape of the corolla and the presence of fasciculate glandular-hairs at the base of the corolla lobes. It is endemic to the higher altitudes of Yaku-shima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture.     

Mycobacterium rhodesiae sp. nov.

A number of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were isolated from the sputum specimen of Rhodesian patients with pulmonary disease and recognized as a new species. This was given the name Mycobacterium rhodesiae sp. nov. A comparison between M. rhodesiae, M. parafortuitum, M. aurum and M. vaccae was done, and distinguishing characters serving for differentiation between these 4 species of rapid-growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria were described.     

Calligonum taklimakanense sp. nov. (Polygonaceae) from Xinjiang,China

Calligonum taklimakanense B. R. Pan & G. M. Shen, a new species of Polygonaceae from Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to C. ebinuricum Ivanova ex Soskov in having similar fruit shape and achenes with two rows of bristles, but differs in straight old branches and slightly coiled achenes without a long beak. Calligonum ebinuricum has tortuous old branches, very coiled achenes, and a 2–4 mm long beak.     

Revision of genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae). II. Multi-Raker species: M. polylepis, M. falsidicus sp. nova, M. pachystomus sp. nova, M. macrocephalus, M. leprus

The second part of the publication is devoted to the Melamphaes species (family Melamphaidae), which are characterized by 20 and more rakers on the first gill arch, by seven soft rays in the ventral fin, by absence of a temporal spine, by 14–15 rays in the pectoral fin, and by 11 abdominal vertebrae. M. polylepis is characterized by circumtropical range (Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, western and central Pacific Ocean). Newly described species M. falsidicus is described from the northern Atlantic Ocean, where it was sampled between 34°N and 58°N. Before, this species was defined as M. microps. Another newly described species, M. pachystomus, is described along the Peruvian Coast. M. macrocephalus is redescribed. This species inhabits the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (approximately between 30°N and 23°S). One of the studied specimens of M. macrocephalus was characterized by larger body size (SL = 128 mm) than was described before for this species. M. leprus is known currently by single findings from the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean (between 11°N and 4°S). This species was also found in the samples obtain in the Gulf of Guinea.     

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora from the three‐striped ground squirrel,Lariscus insignis,in Java

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) are described from the three‐striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, from Tjibodas, West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia at an elevation of 1500 m. Macrostylophora larisci sp. n. is described from three male specimens, Macrostylophora debilitata sp. n. is described from one male and Macrostylophora wilsoni sp. n. is described from one female. Non‐genital morphological characters of the female specimen, including ctenidial spine shapes and lengths, show that it is not the corresponding female for either M. larisci sp. n. or M. debilitata sp. n. It is unusual for three different species of congeneric fleas to parasitize the same host species in the same geographical location. These three new species represent the first known records of Macrostylophora from Java and they could be enzootic vectors between rodents of flea‐borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, both of which are established on Java. A list is provided of the 43 known species and 12 subspecies of Macrostylophora together with their known geographical distributions and hosts. A map depicting the distributions of known Indonesian (and Bornean) species of Macrostylophora is also included.     

Heteropyknotic filament in spermatids of Triatoma melanocephala and T. vitticeps (Hemiptera,Triatominae)

The species Triatoma melanocephala and T. vitticeps are vectors of Chagas disease in Brazil. An analysis of the number of chromosomes has led to the proposal of the exclusion of both these species and T. tibiamaculata from the Brasiliensis subcomplex because of their similarities to the triatomines of North America. T. melanocephala has been found to have morphologic characteristics that are very similar to those of T. vitticeps, and these species have been considered synonymous. Thus, this paper analyzes the spermiogenesis of T. melanocephala and T. vitticeps in order to compare the two and to evaluate another possible relationship between the species. This study describes spermatogenesis and observes the morphology, cell size, and cytogenetic characteristics of triatomines. In all T. melanocephala cells, a slightly prominent peripheral heteropyknotic filament was observed. In T. vitticeps, an extensive peripheral heteropyknotic filament was observed in spermatids. This filament was observed in either the periphery or the middle of the cell. Thus, this paper describes the spermiogenesis stage of two cryptic species of triatomines and suggests that the central heteropyknotic filament can be used as a tool in the diagnosis of T. vitticeps as a vector of Chagas disease.     

Microstachys crassifolia sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from Chapada dos Veadeiros,Goiás,Brazil

Microstachys crassifolia, a new species from Chapada dos Veadeiros region in the State of Goias, central Brazil, is here described and illustrated. Its habit and general morphology resembles that of M. nana Silva & Esser, an endemic species from the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Both species are hemicryptophytes from grasslands, with a well‐developed underground system, glabrous leaves and reddish inflorescences and fruits, but M. crassifolia has fleshy leaves without glands while M. nana has membranaceous leaves with pateliform, submarginal glands.     

Monogenea of Chinese marine fishes. XIV. Two new species of Microcotylidae from fishes of the South China Sea

Two new species of microcotylid monogeneans are described. Solostamenides platyorchis n. sp. was obtained from the gills of Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae) and Polylabroides guangdongensis n. sp. from the gills of Sparus macrocephalus, S. berda and Acanthopagrus latus (Sparidae). Solostamenides platyorchis is morphologically similar to S. mugilis (Vogt, 1878) Unnithan, 1971 and S. pseudomugilis (Hargis, 1956) Unnithan, 1971 in the structure of the copulatory organ, but differs from them in the number, arrangement and shape of the testes. Features of P. guangdongensis distinguishing it from other species of the genus include a copulatory organ lacking small spines and an extremely long polar filament on the egg. In view of this species, we suggest omitting the presence of small spines on the copulatory organ as a diagnostic character of the genus Polylabroides Mamaev & Parukhin, 1976.     

Niphon macrocephalus sp. nov., a Late Pliocene serranid fish from Okinawa, Japan

A new fossil serranid fish,Niphon macrocephalus, is described on the basis of a single specimen from the Late Pliocene Shinzato Formation, Shimajiri Group, Miyagi-shima, Okinawa, Japan. This species is distinguished from the Recent speciesNiphon spinosus Cuvier, 1828, in having the following four characters: (1) large head, (2) long frontals, (3) rounded posteroventral angle of maxilla, and (4) large 3rd hypural.     

A unique radiation of marine littorinid snails in the freshwater streams of the Western Ghats of India: the genus Cremnoconchus W.T. Blanford, 1869 (Gastropoda: Littorinidae)

The caenogastropod family Littorinidae is almost exclusively marine, but a unique freshwater genus, Cremnoconchus, is known from India. Its members are restricted to montane streams on the western escarpment of the Western Ghats, at altitudes between 300 and 1400 m. Four species and several varieties were described in the 19th century, but no taxonomic study has been carried out for over 120 years and the last anatomical report was in 1935. Nevertheless, they are of unusual evolutionary interest and also of conservation concern as a genus endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Based on anatomical study of newly collected material and examination of historical and type specimens, we present a systematic revision of Cremnoconchus, illustrating shells, radulae, and reproductive anatomy. The very large eggs, invaginated penial filament, and calcified operculum are unique among Littorinidae. Three valid, described species (C. syhadrensis, C. conicus, C. canaliculatus) are recognized in the northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra state, where all can occasionally be found sympatrically. We describe an additional six new species from the central Western Ghats in a small area (linear distance 80 km) of Karnataka state, over 500 km south of the previously known range of the genus. Here the species each appear to be restricted to a single drainage system. Because of their highly restricted distribution and fragile habitat, this radiation of nine species is judged to be endangered. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

罂粟科绿绒蒿属三新种

该文描述了罂粟科绿绒蒿属三新种。(1)自四川西北部发现的二新种:肋蕊绿绒蒿,此种可能与拉萨绿绒蒿近缘,区别特征为此种叶片较狭,全缘,子房具4条纵肋;狭瓣绿绒蒿,此种可能与川西绿绒蒿近缘,区别特征为此种叶片较小,无毛,花瓣呈条状倒披针形。(2)自青海南部发现的一新种:短丝绿绒蒿,此种可能隶属于琴叶绿绒蒿亚属、滇西绿绒蒿组、滇西绿绒蒿系,与此系其他种的区别在于此种的披针状条形花瓣和较少、较短的雄蕊(花丝长1～5 mm)以及无花柱的雌蕊和被具短毛的硬毛子房。     

Micropera tibetica sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from southeastern Tibet,China

A new species of Orchidaceae, Micropera tibetica from Medog County, Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to M. mannii, from which it differs by having creamy white flowers, not twisted column, strongly oblique lateral sepals with emarginated apex, and very small lateral lobes of the lip.     

The type species of Apiognomonia, A. veneta, with its Discula anamorph is distinct from A. errabunda

Species of Apiognomonia with their Discula anamorphic states in the Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales, are known throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere and cause diseases such as sycamore or plane tree anthracnose. The genus Apiognomonia was described based on A. veneta as the type species; however, there has been disagreement about whether or not A. veneta is a synonym of A. errabunda. Using morphological, ecological, and DNA sequence data we conclude that A. errabunda and A. veneta are different species, although very closely related; thus, A. veneta is the correct name for the type species of Apiognomonia. This conclusion is based on a combined analysis of sequences from the ITS regions of nuclear rDNA for 51 isolates from host plants of eight genera and intron regions from actin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha for over 25 isolates. The type species of the genus Discula is D. nervisequa, the earliest available epithet for D. platani, the lectotype of Discula. D. nervisequa is the anamorph of A. veneta. Based on an examination of the type specimen, we determined that the commonly used name for the anamorph of A. errabunda, D. umbrinella, refers to another species. A. veneta and A. errabunda including their anamorphs are described and illustrated. An account of all synonyms and excluded synonyms is presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudorhabdosynochus quadratus</Emphasis> n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the white-streaked grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus ongus</Emphasis> (Bloch) (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Gill diplectanid monogeneans from the camouflage grouper Epinephelus polyphekadion (Bleeker) collected in the coral reef lagoon of New Caledonia, South Pacific, comprise four species. Very few monogeneans were found in most fish examined. Pseudorhabdosynochus dionysos n. sp. has a sclerotised vagina with a robust trumpet, a robust primary canal and two chambers of similar size; it is close to P. bacchus Sigura, Chauvet & Justine, 2007. P. viscosus n. sp. has a sclerotised vagina with a robust trumpet, long primary canal with an extremely thin wall and two small chambers, and a male quadriloculate organ with a characteristic thickening at the extremity of its cone. P. crassus n. sp., the most abundant species, has a sclerotised vagina with a thin-walled trumpet, thin-walled primary canal which is always coiled anteriorly and two small chambers. P. huitoe Justine, 2007, P. manifestus Justine & Sigura, 2007 and P. crassus have very similar sclerotised vaginae; however, species of this ‘huitoe complex’ can be distinguished by measurements of the haptoral hard parts. A few diplectanid specimens found in a single specimen of E. polyphekadion were attributed to P. huitoe, a species originally described from E. maculatus (Bloch) and also rarely found in E. cyanopodus Richardson in New Caledonia; specimens from these three fish species are morphologically indistinguishable.     

Bothriospermum longistylum sp. nov. (Boraginaceae) from north China

Based on field investigations as well as morphological and molecular systematic studies we found a new species of Bothriospermum which can be easily distinguished from all other known congeneric species by its unlobed faucal appendages and very long styles. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset from nrITS, plastid rps16, trnL‐trnF and trnG‐trnS regions. The results indicated that the new species indeed belongs in Bothriospermum and that it is well separated from other congeneric clusters, but that the genus Bothriospermum is paraphyletic with Nihon and Thyrocarpus clusetered within it. As a result, Bothriospermum longistylum sp. nov. is described and illustrated here. A revised key to species of Bothriospermum and a distributional map are also presented.     

Trypanosoma pifanoi n. sp. from Colombian Bats*

SYNOPSIS. A new large trypanosome was found in the blood of 19 Artibeus lituratus and 2 Phyllostomus hastatus bats. The monomorphic trypanosome resembles Trypanosoma megadermae in some respects, but differs from it in that it is larger and has a short flagellum, both extremities are very tapered, the kinetoplast is very close to a small nucleus and there is a greater distance between the kinetoplast and the posterior extremity of the body. In diphasic blood-agar cultures there is a great variety of odd multiplication forms not described from other trypanosome cultures, but some simulate T. cruzi. This trypanosome is not capable of infecting mice, tissue culture cells, Carollia perspicillata bats, or triatomids, but is able to infect A. lituratus bats. Culture forms of the trypanosome inoculated intra-coelomically are pathogenic for several species of triatomids, and multiply in the hemolymph of Rhodnius prolizus, often producing forms similar to crithidiae of T. rangeli. Culture forms of the trypanosome seem to have common antigens with T. cruzi. This new species is described as Trypanosoma pifanoi.